Tag: "Keven Cohen"

South Carolina Talk Personality Keven Cohen to Lease Columbia Signal for New Talk Outlet. Longtime WVOC, Columbia, South Carolina talk show host Keven Cohen is getting into the radio station operation business under the aegis of his company Capital City Media LLC. Cohen – who was let go from Clear Channel’s WVOC last fall after a 19-year career there – is leasing WQXL (AM 1470) and its translator W240AX (at 95.9 FM) from religious broadcasters Glory Communications which will be branded “The Point” and will debut on Monday, October 28. In a story in The State, Cohen says he mortgaged his home to launch the company and he will be one of those hitting the streets to sell advertising. “People should know every dollar spent on ‘The Point’ will stay in Columbia. It won’t be going to some big corporation in another city.” Cohen will host the morning show with the rest of the day featuring syndicated programming including: Cox Media’s Herman Cain, Courtside Entertainment’s Laura Ingraham, Compass Media’s Todd Schnitt and Lars Larson, independently syndicated progressive host Leslie Marshall, WYD Media’s Phil Hendrie and Cumulus Media Networks’ “Red Eye Radio.’ Cohen’s venture is a great example of broadcasters pushed out of the business due to systems beyond their control getting back in via the entrepreneurial spirit.

News/Talk KXNT, Las Vegas Adds Dayna Roselli to AM Drive Program.CBS Radio’s Las Vegas news/talker KXNT is going with a three-person morning program with the addition of Dayna Roselli alongside Joe Gillespie and Nathan Tannenbaum. KXNT program director Andrew Paul states, “Dayna is a special talent, who is extremely well connected in the community. Her fans love her, evidenced by her 15,000-plus Twitter followers. She has great knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and a love for Las Vegas. We are excited to have her join the KXNT team!” Roselli most recently worked at the Las Vegas CBS affiliate, KLAS-TV, as morning news anchor and entertainment reporter. She adds, “I’m really thrilled to be a part of this team and take on the world of radio. I love this community and all it has to offer. It’s nice to have a voice and make a difference by bringing the people of Southern Nevada the news and information they need.”

Chris Arnold Returns to ‘GBag Nation’ on ‘105.3 The Fan’ in Dallas. According to a report in the Dallas Observer, sports talk host Chris Arnold returned to the air on CBS Radio’s KRLD-FM, Dallas on Monday afternoon, a week after basically admitting to plagiarizing much of a column that appeared on the station’s website. The company has not made a public statement about the incident but Dallas Observer writer Eric Nicholson writes that it appears Arnold was given “a week’s vacation.” However, it’s unclear if Arnold was paid for the week he was off the air. Last week, TALKERS reported that Arnold’s use of football writer Scott Kacsmar’s work had ended in Kacsmar calling him on it and Arnold apologizing and asking Kacsmar to come on the radio show. Kacsmar declined but asked for an apology on the radio.

Jim Traber Gets New Deal at ‘The Sports Animal’ in OK City. Former Oklahoma State quarterback and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Jim Traber has been an important part of WWLS, Oklahoma City “The Sports Animal” and management is rewarding him with a new, three-year contract, according to a report from NewsOK.com. The site reports that Cumulus Media market manager Larry Bastida says corporate is putting a “real investment in sports talk radio. They believe it’s one of the formats of the future. They give us a lot of support here.” Traber is also heard on other stations in Oklahoma across the “Sports Animal Radio Network” including KYAL-AM/FM, Tulsa; KBIX, Muskogee; KADS, Elk City; and KSIW, Woodward.

Spoken Word Marks Significant Component of Rock Radio Morning Fare.TALKERS magazine’s sister publication in the music radio arena, RadioInfo, has posted (10/22) a video feature delving into the nuances of Saga Communications’ sister rock stations in Springfield, Massachusetts – classic rocker WAQY “Rock 102” and active rocker WLZX “Lazer 99.3.” The reason we are bringing this to the attention of TALKERS readers is the significant role talk programming plays in the morning shows of each of these consistently successful operations…which is reflective of this position at numerous rock stations across the nation. TALKERS/RadioInfo publisher Michael Harrison speaks with Rob Cressman, brand manager for both stations who discusses the state of the classic rock and active rock formats in addition to sharing insights into the nuances of these outstanding outlets. Harrison also visits with “Rock 102” morning team Bax & O’ Brien (Michael “Bax” Baxendale, right, and John O’ Brien, left) as well as “Lazer 99.3” morning star Leslie who also discuss the importance of talk in their respective AM drive presentations. To view this video located in a box marked RadioInfoTV in the upper right column on the RadioInfo.com home page, please click here.

Sun Broadcasting Group to Rep Horse Racing Radio Network. A new partnership has been struck that has Sun Broadcast Group, Inc. serving as national sales rep for the Horse Racing Radio Network, LLC, effective immediately. The on-air content will include the Triple Crown races of the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and The Belmont Stakes along with the Breeders Cup World Championships. This deal expands the growing sports products being offered by Sun. The Horse Racing Radio Network is heard in over 50 markets and on SiriusXM. SBG EVP Steve Gallagher states, “At Sun Broadcast Group, we are committed to unique, quality programming our clients and customers want to be associated with. Our partnership with the Horse Racing Radio Network represents our dedication to excellence and we are thrilled to be a part of The Triple Crown, thoroughbred horse racing’s ultimate prestige event. Mike Penna and his team have an unrivaled passion for horse racing and plan to broadcast more than 100 of the nation’s best thoroughbred races.”

AdLarge Media to Rep Envision Radio Networks. The immediate upshot of that deal is the movement of inventory already measured in Nielsen Audio’s RADAR service to AdLarge’s Return on Investment (ROI) Network. AdLarge states, “This news comes just a month after AdLarge’s ROI Network debuted in RADAR as one of the largest advertising networks within the ratings service. Envision Radio Networks has been part of RADAR for more than 10 years and has significant major market coverage, including all of the top 25 measured markets.” AdLarge co-founder and CEO Gary Schonfeld says, “Our arrangement with Envision Radio Networks brings top-performing stations and large market coverage to our portfolio. Envision CEO Danno Wolkoff and COO Laura Orkin share our vision of innovation and entrepreneurship and our dedication to developing customized solutions for advertisers.” Wolkoff adds, “Gary and Cathy [Csukas] and their team at AdLarge will increase our presence in the national advertising arena. They are very familiar with our programming, services, and online audio products, and can help national advertisers understand the scope of our network’s reach and frequency, and the amount of impressions we can deliver on a daily basis.”

Need A Mic? Consider the Classic Electro Voice. Talk radio personality Michael W. Dean – co-host of the nationally syndicated “Freedom Feens” program that also features Neema Vedadi – says radio performers considering a microphone for the home studio would do well to invest in the Electro Voice RE-20. The price point may be a bit high for some, but the sound and the sturdy build make it a wise investment. Read Dean’s discussion about EV mics here.

Dickey Broadcasting Renews Braves Deal. Atlanta sports talk WCNN “680 The Fan” has been the flagship station for Atlanta Braves baseball since 2010 and will remain so as station owner Dickey Broadcasting and the team renew their deal. Under the terms, games will air on WCNN (and its Cumulus-owned FM translator W229AG at 93.7). But this year, instead of games also airing on Cumulus Media’s rock WNNX, they will be heard on Cumulus’ all-news WYAY “All News 106.7.” Dickey will manage the Braves Radio Network throughout the Southeast. Dickey president David Dickey states, “”We are proud to be the official radio home of the Atlanta Braves. ‘680 The Fan’ is the dominant sports station in the region, and we believe our association with the Braves has greatly contributed to our incredible growth over the past four years. We will continue to work with the Braves to deliver the best coverage and more team-focused content throughout 2014 and beyond.”

TuneIn to Feature “This American Life” Channel. Digital audio aggregator TuneIn is soon to be the exclusive home of the archive of PRI’s Chicago Public Media-produced “This American Life” with host Ira Glass. The company reports that the 24/7 station will contain episodes from the show’s 18-year history featuring more than 500 hours of content. TuneIn CEO John Donham states, “TuneIn is devoted to bringing listeners access to the best programming available in the world. ‘This American Life’ has always been a fan favorite, and we are happy ‘This American Life’ has chosen TuneIn as its partner to launch the 24/7 station.”

Odds & Sods.Jon Patch, who’s been with Business TalkRadio Network for much of the past 20 years, exits the company where he’s been working in affiliate sales and programming as well as hosting “Talkin’ Pets.” He’s seeking his next opportunity and can be reached at jonpatch@talkinpets.com…..Brett Jensen is a casualty at CBS Radio’s sports talk WFNZ, Charlotte “610 the Fan” where he hosted the midday program from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. To fill the gap, Frank Garcia’s program now airs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and “The Drive with Taylor Zarzour and Marc James” begins at 2:00 pm…..It’s nice to have a World Series taking place in your market, just ask the folks at Entercom‘s sports talk WEEI, Boston. The station announces it is giving away World Series tix on Wednesday (10/23) on the Dennis & Callahan morning show and the Salk & Holley PM drive program.

ObamaCare Website Problems, GOP Infighting, State of the Economy Poll, Chris Christie’s Gay Marriage Stance, Nevada School Shooting, and Washington Redskins Controversy Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/21). The massive problems with the government’s Affordable Care Act website; the discussion over whether the GOP is splintering; the results of a recent poll in which Americans express less confidence in the economy; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s changed stance on gay marriage; the death of a teacher in a Nevada school shooting; and the ongoing controversy over the Washington Redskins’ name were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

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The Week of Sandy for Broadcasters in the Northeast; Broadcasters Associations Tout Virtues of Local Radio and TV. Natural disasters bring the importance of radio to the fore and Hurricane Sandy was no different. Even as we write this, broadcasters in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are – days after the storm – struggling with ongoing issues of lack of electricity, fuel shortages, staff with homes damages and destroyed, and more. In fact, contacting broadcasters in the affected areas to report how they are getting by is a challenge since all of their resources – such as they are – are being used to perform the function of emergency broadcasting. However the degree to which the storm affected the hub of media in this country – New York City — threw another wrench into the works. Even though radio stations were able to get information out one way or another – for example, all-news WINS using sister station WXRK’s signal when its transmitter went down – broadcasting companies were hampered by the lack of electricity and the business end of operating a station or network remained, and in some cases remains, challenging. New Jersey Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Paul Rotella is using the disaster to raise the FM chips in cell phones issue. “This deadly disaster points out the absolute necessity of having FM chips in cell phones activated, which would turn every cell phone into an emergency ‘transistor’ radio. (Many cell phones already have FM chips either installed or easily implanted and activated.) I understand that cell phone carriers want to make money off of consumers with streaming rate plans, etc., but maybe they could light the FM chip up in times of emergency so that more people can receive emergency information that only our local broadcasters are capable of transmitting to everyone. It’s worth exploring.” New York State Broadcasters Association president David L. Donovan notes in a press release touting the value of over-the-air broadcasting that 25% of cell towers in 10 states were affected by the storm, relegating the public to using battery-powered radios and TVs to get news and information. (The flood image is courtesy of Cox Media Group Connecticut from a video of the group’s coverage of the storm and its aftermath. See the entire video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix9PvdYKvkc)

CBS Radio Names Ryan Maguire KDKA-FM, Pittsburgh PD. Rising sports programming star Ryan Maguire has been tabbed by CBS Radio to handle the PD position at Pittsburgh sports talk outlet KDKA-FM “SportsRadio 93.7 The Fan.” Maguire fills the shoes left by Terry Foxx who moved to Atlanta to program CBS Radio’s new FM sports talk outlet WZGC “92.9 The Game.” Maguire currently serves as PD for Entercom’s KCSP, Kansas City “610 Sports Radio.” Prior to that he programmed Entercom’s WSSP, Milwaukee “Sports Radio 1250” and Cumulus Media’s WTKA, Ann Arbor “The Ticket 1050.” CBS Radio SVP and market manager Michael Young states, “Ryan has a very impressive track record in programming sports radio stations. He has produced strong ratings and successfully developed a number of dynamic on-air sports personalities. Furthermore, Ryan has an uncompromising passion for sports and his leadership will well serve Pittsburgh sports fans.” On his new gig, Maguire says, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity and privilege to be a part of ‘Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan’ in Pittsburgh. Western Pennsylvania is home to some of the most loyal and passionate fans in the country and I’m looking forward to seeing KDKA-FM continue to be a big part of their sports experience.”

Media Broker Says Opportunity is Knocking Right Now for First-Time Station Buyers. Sandi Bergman, whom TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison describes as “a dynamic rising star among today’s crop of media brokers,” has positive news for the many recently laid-off radio management figures looking to apply their seasoned skills in a new and productive direction in the industry. They should consider radio station ownership! Although it is a tough sales-driven business and there are daunting obstacles to obtaining financing, ownership is not just for the mega-corporations who are burdened with seemingly insurmountable debt. It is indeed possible that many of them will be spinning off unwieldy properties in the months and years ahead creating new opportunities for fresh blood in the business. According to Bergman, who owns the innovative website www.RadioTVDeals.com and a New Mexico-based brokerage firm (MyMediaBroker.com) and is one of the relatively few major female brokers in the game, there are many incredible opportunities for first-time buyers. Read the entire TALKERS interview with Sandi Bergman here.

It’s Official: WFAN, New York Broadcasts on 101.9 FM.CBS Radio took over WRXP 101.9 FM under an LMA at midnight last night and the nation’s first full-time sports talk station WFAN, New York is now heard in the region on FM. CBS Radio is buying the class B FM signal from Merlin Media for $75 million.

Keven Cohen Out at WVOC, Columbia, South Carolina.Clear Channel Media and Entertainment ousts PM drive host Keven Cohen from news/talk WVOC, Columbia, South Carolina. Cohen announced his departure from the station via his Facebook page stating, “An hour ago, Clear Channel relieved me of my duties and fired me. Obviously, I am devastated. I am not getting the chance to do so on the radio, so I want to thank all of you for the love and support you have offered my way over almost 19 years at WVOC. Please keep the Cohen family in your prayers. This will be a significant challenge.” WVOC has not announced its plans for PM drive at the station.

Now That You’re in Sales… Because all radio staffers are in sales now – or should be, according to radio consultant Holland Cooke – if they want to keep their jobs. But as Cooke writes, just because you’re a talent doing personalized spots doesn’t mean you have job security these days. So, what’s a talent to do? Still more, says Cooke. “Offer to write copy. You got your on-air job because you’re good with words, right? That could make you handy to have around if yours is one of many stations where the creative department fell victim to a recent bloodbath. Too often, account reps are writing spot copy, and too much of it sounds like…well, spot copy.” Also, have you accompanied a sales rep on a call? No? Uh-oh…better read more of Holland Cooke’s wise advise for air talent here.

Steve Kelley to Prove Colorado is a Swing State.Steve Kelley, along with Bill Rogan and Murphy Wells, hosts the morning drive show on Salem Communications’ KNUS, Denver. Kelley is a well-known Denver radio personality who has performed various stunts for charity in the past. Now, Kelly has begun an effort to break the world record for time spent swinging – a tongue-in-cheek nod to Colorado’s political status as a “swing state” and with the desire to highlight the need for all registered voters to cast their ballots. Kelley will report on his progress live on the air and plans to finish his attempt sometime Saturday evening. In past stunts, Kelley has rode a pogo stick from Boulder to Denver and sat in every seat in both the old and new Mile High Stadiums.

Welcoming Herman to Tulsa.Cox Media Group’s news/talk KRMG-AM/FM, Tulsa held a live local event with some of its showcase talent to welcome talk show host and former presidential candidate Herman Cain to the market where he’ll take over as host of the Cox-syndicated Neal Boortz show in January. Pictured here are (from l-r): Cox Media star Clark Howard, Boortz, Cain, and Cox Media radio news director of the Washington Bureau Jamie Dupree.

Hurricane Sandy Destruction Tops Talkers TenTM for Week of October 29-November 2. The destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week landing at #1 on the Talkers TenTM. Following at #2 was the NY/NJ/CT Gas Shortages. At #3 was climate change controversy followed by the presidential race polls and predictions at #4. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio across the country and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS. View this week’s entire chart here.

TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. WYD Media-produced and Dial Global-distributed Michael Smerconish is added to the program schedule at WCMY, Ottawa, Illinois and WEZS, Laconia, New Hampshire…..Independently syndicated “Free Talk Live” with Ian Freeman and Mark Edge is added to the lineup at KBZZ-AM/FM, Reno.